Clamp type earring construction having reversibly mounted ornamental member

ABSTRACT

AN EARRING CONSTRUCTION HAVING A MOUNTING MEMBER ON WHICH AN ORNAMENTAL MEMBER IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED, WHEREIN A PORTION OF THE ORNAMENTAL MEMBER IS ALSO ROTATABLE AND MAY BE SELECTIVELY REVERSED TO EXPOSE ONE OF TWO DESIGNS FORMED ON OPPOSED SURFACES OF THE PORTION, THE ROTATABLE MOVEMENT OF THE PORTION LOCATING ONE OF THE SURFACES IN AN OUTER POSITION RELATIVE TO THE WEARER&#39;&#39;S EARLOBE FOR VISUAL DISPLAY.

Oct. 19, 1971 R w, LAMQUREUX 3,613,398

' CLAMP TYPE EARRING CONSTRUCTION HAVING YRL'JVI'J'RSIBLY MOUNTED ORNAMENTAL MEMBER Filed April 7, 1969 Inventor, Roland WLamoureux,

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United States Patent 015cc 3,613,393 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 CLAMP TYPE EARRING CONSTRUCTION HAV- ING REVERSIBLY MOUNTED ORNAMENTAL MEMBER Roland W. Lamoureux, Warwick, R.I., assignor to Hedison Corp., Providence, RI. Filed Apr. 7, 1969, Ser. No. 813,967 Int. Cl. A44c 7/00 US. Cl. 6314 D 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An earring construction having a mounting member on which an ornamental member is rotatably mounted, wherein a portion of the ornamental member is also rotatable and may be selectively reversed to expose one of two designs formed on opposed surfaces of the portion, the rotatable movement of the portion locating one of the surfaces in an outer position relative to the wearers earlobe for visual display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Earrings are normally constructed with a specific ornamental design so that when they are applied to the earlobe of the wearer, the design is exteriorly visible. The usual earring as purchased by the wearer may be attached to the earlobe of the wearer by means of a pivotal clasp or may include a piercing wire or post that extends through an opening in the earlobe of the wearer. However, regardless of the manner of attachement of the earring to the wearers earlobe, the ornamental characteristics of the heretofore known earrings could not be changed without altering the constructional arrangement of the earring.

Some attempts have been made heretofore to provide a convertible type earring, wherein an element of the earring was removed for substitution with a similar element. The elements of such convertible earrings usually included color variations so as to change the ornamental characteristics of the earring when the interchangeable element was substituted therein. However, none of the prior known convertible earrings were changeable or convertible without the substitution and/ or removal of a part. Thus the convertible earring known heretofore necessarily required additional parts that could be mislaid or lost which defeated the purpose of the converting characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The reversible earring construction embodied in the present invention includes a mounting member that is adapted to be secured to the earlobe of a wearer, an ornamental member being mounted on the mounting member for rotatable movement with respect thereto. The ornamental member includes a portion that is formed with opposed Surfaces, each of said surfaces having an ornamentally distinct design formed thereon, wherein rotatable movement of the ornamental member selectively locates one of said surfaces in an outer position relative to the wearers earlobe for visual display, the other of the surfaces being selectively moved to the outer position upon further rotatable movement of the ornamental member. In one form of the invention, a base element is provided and forms a part of the ornamental member, the base element being rotatably connectable to the mounting member. The portion of the ornamental member that is formed with opposed surfaces is pivotally connected to the base element and depends therefrom to define a drop ornament. Upon rotation of the base element with respect to the mounting member, selective location of one of the surfaces in the outer position relative to the wearers earlobe is then provided. In another form of the invention, the rotatable ornamental member is defined by opposed portions that are rotatable on a central axis with respect to a fixed center strip, the opposite sides of the opposed portions having distinctive designs formed thereon and being selectively locatable in an outer position as the portions are rotated about the central axis thereof. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a reversible earring having an ornamental portion that is swivelly mounted with respect to the ear clip thereof when it is desired to vary the appearance of the earring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reversible earring wherein the ornamental parts thereof are adapted to be rotated with respect to the mounting portion therefor so as to enable the ornamental portion to be selectively located with either of the surfaces thereof in an outer display position.

Still another object is to provide an earring construction that includes an ornamental portion that is both rotatable and pivotal for selectively exposing the opposite sides thereof, thereby providing an interesting ornamental effect in the use of the earring.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the earring embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the earring illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but with the ornamental member located in the reverse position thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the modification; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the ornamental member of the modified earring in the reverse position thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, one form of the earring embodied in the present invention is illustrated and is generally indicated at 10. The earring 10 includes a mounting member generally indicated at 12 on which an ornamental member generally indicated at 14 is mounted for rotatable movement with respect thereto. The mounting member, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is in the form of a conventional clasp construction usually associated with earrings, and includes an arm 16 to which a clasp element 1-8 is pivotally connected as indicated at 20. A spring 22 is joined to the clasp element 18 at 23 and engages an end of the arm 16 in camming relation, the spring 22 cooperating with the arm 16 to provide for movement of the clasp element 18 to a positive open or closed position. A pad 24 joined to the end of the clasp element 18 is engageable with the earlobe of the wearer for securing the earring 10 on the wearers earlobe.

The ornamental member 14 includes a swivelly mounted base element 26 that may have any desired configuration, the external surface of the base element 26 being provided 'with'a suitable design that is decorative in appearance. Afiixed to the central base element 26 and extending rearwardly thereof is a pin 28 to which an enlarged head 30 is joined, the head being somewhat spaced from the inner surface of the base element 26 for accommodating the arm 16 therebetween. As shown in FIG. 1, the arm 16 is provided with an opening 32 in the end thereof through which the pin 28 extends, wherein the head 30 rotatably unites the arm 16 and the base element, on the pin 28 but provides for relative movement between the base element and arm so as to enable the base element 26 to be rotatable with the pin 28 and with respect to the arm 16.

Referring to FIG. 2, the ornamental member 14 is shown also including a drop member or portion 34 having arms 36 that terminate in pivot posts 40. The pivot posts 40 loosely project into suitable openings 44 formed in the side edges of the base element 26 to pivotally mount the drop ornament on the base element. The drop member 34 is constructed such that one surface thereof, as indicated at 48, is formed with a particular design, while the other surface thereof, indicated at 50 in FIG. 3, is formed with a design that is different from the design 48. In this connection, it is understood that the designs may incorporate color variations as well as variations in design configuration. As will be described, the concept of the invention is to locate either the surface 48 or 50 in an external position with respect to the wearers earlobe, thereby varying the ornamental characteristics of the earring 10.

In use of the earring 10, as illustrated in FIGS. l-3, the earring is attached to the earlobe of the wearer by means of the clasp 12, the pad 24 engaging the inner surface of the wearers earlobe and the head 30 of the pin 28 engaging the outer surface thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the surface 48 faces outwardly of the wearers earlobe and would be externally visible when the earring is mounted in place with the drop member 34 in the position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. If it is desired to display the surface 50, the drop ornament 34 is pivoted with respect to the base element 26 t the upper position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, and the base element 26 is then rotated 180 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3. The drop member 34 is then returned to the lower position, and in this position the surface 50 faces outwardly with respect to the wearers earlobe. It is understood that the selected position of the surfaces 48 or 50 for display is dependent upon pivotal movement of the drop element 34 with respect to the base element 26 and rotary movement of the base element 26 in the manner as described.

Although the earring 10 as described above includes a mounting member 12 having a pivotal clasp element 18 that engages the wearers earlobe, it is understood that the concept of the invention insofar as the location and movement of the drop member 34 is concerned, is independent of the mounting member as defined by the clasp element. Thus if it is required, the mounting member may take the form of a post or ear wire when it is desired to use the earring for pierced ears. In this connection, the piercing posts would be rotatably connected to the rear of the base element 26 or an ear 'wire would replace the arm 16 and would take the shape and configuration normally associated with pierced earrings.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, and 6, a modified form of the reversible earring is generally indicated at 51 and includes a mounting member generally indicated at 52 that is defined by a post '54 and a mounting strip 56. It is understood that a conventional ear wire may replace the post 54 if a different form of mounting strip is employed; although as illustrated, the earring 51 has a button-like configuration that conforms to the conventional post earring appearance.

Pivotally connected to the mounting strip 56 of the mounting member 52 is an ornamental member generally indicated at 58 that includes opposed ornamental portions 60 and 62 that are joined by a central bar 64. The central bar 64 is received in a slot or recess 66 formed in the rear surface of the mounting strip 56 and a convenient tie is provided for securing the bar 64 within the slot 66 thereby ivotally mounting the ornamental member 58, as defined by the portions 60 and 62, on the base element 56.

The spacing of the ornamental portions and 62 on either side of the mounting strip 56 enable the portions 60 and 62 as joined to the bar 64 to be pivoted with respect to the base element 56, thereby locating one of the surfaces of the ornamental portions in an external position as desired. Thus the external surfaces of the ornamental portions 60 and 62 may be formed distinctively differently, and in FIG. 5 are illustrated having convex surfaces 68 and 70, respectively. On the reverse side of the ornamental portions 60 and 62, concave surfaces 72 and 74 are formed thereon and thus impart a different ornamental appearance than the surfaces 68, 70. It is seen that the ornamental member 58 as defined by the portions 60 and 62 is selectively rotated to locate either the surfaces 68 and 70 or 72 and 74 in the outer position With respect to the wearers earlobe. It is further seen that the surfaces may be differently ornamented than that illustrated and may be formed with various colors or designs as desired. It is also understood that the external surface of the base element 56 will be formed with an ornamental design that will complement the designs formed on the surfaces 68, 70 and 72, 74.

In use of the earring illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, the desired surface of the portions 60 and 62 will be located relative to the base element 56 prior to inserting the post 54 in the opening formed in the wearers earlobe. Once the earring 51 is mounted in place, the pivotal ornamental member 58 will remain in the position to which it is moved, since the rear surfaces of the portions 60 and 62 will firmly engage the wearers earlobe. If it is desired to rotate the ornamental member 58 to expose the reverse surfaces of the portions 60, 62, then the earring 51 is removed from the wearers earlobe and the movement as required is effected.

What is claimed is:

1. A reversible earring construction, comprising a mounting member of generally U-shape, said mounting member including means for securing same to the ear lobe of a wearer with said U-shape receiving the lobe therewithin, an ornamental member mounted on said mounting member, said ornamental member including a base element, means mounting said base element for rotation on said mounting member about an axis perpendicular to said base element, said ornamental member further including a portion that is formed with opposed surfaces, each of said surfaces having an ornamentally distinct design formed thereon, means mounting said portion for rotation on said base element about a point eccentric to said portion, the rotatable movement of the base element being about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the ear lobe when the earring is mounted thereon and the rotatable movement of said portion being about an axis generally parallel to the plane of the ear lobe when the earring is mounted thereon, wherein rotation of said portion with respect to said base element and then rotation of said base element with respect to said mounting member selectively rotates one of said surfaces in an outer position relative to the wearers ear lobe for visual display, the other of said surfaces being selectively moved to the outer position upon further rotatable movement of said portion and said base element.

2. In a reversible earring as set forth in claim 4, said drop ornament having pivot posts joined thereto that are loosely received in openings formed in edges of said base element, thereby pivotally mounting said drop ornament on said base element.

3. In a reversible earring construction as set forth in claim 1, said mounting member including an arm to which said ornamental member is rotatably secured and a clasp element pivotally connected to said arm for movement to a closed posiiton on the wearers earlobe, said clasp element having a spring joined thereto that engages said arm for urging said clasp element to a positive open or closed position.

4. In the reversible earring construction as set forth in claim 1, the portion of said ornamental member that is FOREIGN PATENTS formed with opposed surfaces and that is pivotally con- 209,495 7/1957 Australia nected to said base element depending from said base 1,175,386 11/1958 France. element to form a drop ornament.

5 F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6331 915,678 3/1909 Kantor et a1. i i 6331 2,682,759 7/1954 Chalikian et a1. 63-143 10 

